As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

NATO’s Evolution and Response to Global Threats

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada recognize the threat posed to Canada and the values of NATO by states such as Russia, North Korea, Iran and others, and that representatives of the Government of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces continue to raise issues related to this threat in NATO forums.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada continue to support Ukraine’s reform and democratization efforts that would facilitate its application for NATO membership.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada support NATO efforts to counter the threat posed by international terrorist groups.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada closely monitor efforts by the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) initiative of the European Union and to guard against duplication of efforts to ensure that PESCO does not compete for limited military resources nor undermine NATO operations.

Canada and NATO Operations

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada continue to play a leadership role in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia as part of Canada and NATO’s ongoing commitment to democracy and stability in Europe, in view of Russia’s invasion and continued occupation of eastern Ukraine and its illegal annexation of Crimea.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada continue to invest in research and training development, deployment of personnel in operational headquarters (HQ) and NATO HQ positions.

Canada Matters to NATO

Recommendation 7

That Canada participate in the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) and complete an annual capability report clearly defining and measuring capability by defence objective, including personnel numbers, readiness training levels, equipment technology levels and interoperability.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada re-vitalize and re-establish Canada as a leader in military training within the alliance, including NATO Flying Training, military engineering, communications engineering capabilities, and Women, Peace and Security capabilities.

NATO Burden-Sharing and Defence Spending

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada take steps to meet the 2014 Wales Summit target, and advocate to NATO the establishment of a contributions measurement system that goes beyond the 2.0% expenditure on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) metric. Further, that the Government of Canada consider taking into account other quantitative and qualitative considerations to contributions from NATO member states.

Public Outreach, Educational Awareness and Communications Issues

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada engage with colleges, universities, think-tanks, researchers, and industry, to develop an educational platform in addition to supporting the #WeAreNATO campaign and the NATO Association of Canada, to inform Canadians on the history and importance of NATO to Canada’s defence policy, in guaranteeing peace and security in the world, and to strengthen our understanding and commitment to this important organization.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada and the House of Commons continue to support, invest in and recognize the value of the role of Parliamentarians, including in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, in Canada`s NATO relationship.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada publish an annual report on global threats and national defence.

NATO’s Procurement and Defence Industry Issues

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada invest in accountability structures, management frameworks and performance based contracts with strong incentives and disincentives to ensure timely, efficient and effective military procurement, perhaps reviewing the overall government defence procurement structure and considering the establishment of a Department of Defence Procurement to meet NATO capability and burden sharing.

Recommendation 14

That the Government of Canada play a more active and engaged role in facilitating Canadian-owned defence companies to compete on and secure NATO procurement contracts. That the Government of Canada also continue to invest in, and support Canada’s delegation to the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) to ensure that Canada’s defence industry understands the value and importance of NATO procurement.

Recommendation 15

That the Government of Canada increase the number of National Technical Expert (NATEX) positions, with at least one full-time NATEX in the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) in Brussels, to assist Canadian industry bids on leading edge NATO contracts and to also ensure that no portion of the process of awarding NATO procurement contracts imposes unfair disadvantages on Canadian businesses.

Recommendation 16

That the Government of Canada endeavour to provide programming for pilot project launches with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) where Canadian leading edge technology can fill national defence and security requirements, such as the former Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program (CICP).

NATO Research and Development and Emerging Technologies

Recommendation 17

That the Government of Canada ensure adequate funds are allotted for research and development in order to adapt to the rapid pace of technological change and the increased prevalence of hybrid warfare.

NATO and Cyber Defence

Recommendation 18

That the Government of Canada invest further to address our NATO commitment to enhance the electromagnetic pulse and cyber defences of command and control, national infrastructures and networks, and our commitment to the indivisibility of Allied security and collective defence, in accordance with the Enhanced NATO Policy on Cyber Defence adopted in Wales.

NATO and the Arctic

Recommendation 19

That the Government of Canada take a leading role within NATO to specialize in Arctic defence and security doctrine and capabilities, and enhance NATO’s situational awareness in the Arctic, including joint training and military exercises for NATO members in the Canadian Arctic.

NATO and Maritime Security

Recommendation 20

That the Government of Canada respond to calls for NATO members to increase the quantity and quality of their naval fleets and underwater surveillance capabilities in light of ongoing challenges to NATO members at sea by beginning the process of replacing Canada’s Victoria Class submarine fleet with new submarines that have under-ice capabilities and that the CAF increase the size of the fleet in order to enhance our Arctic and North Atlantic defence preparedness.

Nuclear Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament

Recommendation 21

That the Government of Canada take a leadership role within NATO in beginning the work necessary for achieving the NATO goal of creating the conditions for a world free of nuclear weapons. That this initiative be undertaken on an urgent basis in view of the increasing threat of nuclear conflict flowing from the renewed risk of nuclear proliferation, the deployment of so-called tactical nuclear weapons, and changes in nuclear doctrines regarding lowering the threshold for first use of nuclear weapons by Russia and the US.

NATO and the Space Domain

Recommendation 22

That the Government of Canada support NATO efforts to draft a space strategy to include treaties and codes of conduct governing military attacks on space assets and to reduce debris and congestion in space orbits.

Women, Peace, and Security

Recommendation 23

That the Government of Canada support increased participation of women in NATO by becoming a leader in gender-based operational training; by reporting annually on Canada’s progress on Women, Peace and Security within its military; by working with NATO to further develop gender-based policies and procedures; and by hosting an international integrated military and civilian conference on Women, Peace and Security.

Recommendation 24

That the Government of Canada support the agenda of the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and the commitment of additional resources to that agenda including measures to promote increased recruitment of women in peacekeeping operations both domestically and in the militaries of our allies.

NATO’s Unity and Interoperability

Recommendation 25

That the Government of Canada directly engage with NATO members who may have compromised the security, military interoperability, and values of NATO, and help support them in upholding the shared NATO principles of protecting human rights, respecting the rule of law, promoting democracy, and protecting civilian populations.

Canada and NATO Centres of Excellence

Recommendation 26

That the Government of Canada indicate to the Steering Board of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE) that Canada wishes to participate in the Hybrid CoE.

Recommendation 27

That the Government of Canada establish a NATO Centre of Excellence in the area of security sector reform as this would allow Canada to offer the Alliance a standing capacity for military and police training to be used for conflict prevention and/or successful post-conflict reconstruction efforts.